Main Entry: gov·ern·ment

Pronunciation: \ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt, -və-mənt; ˈgə-b^əm-ənt, -v^əm-\

Function: noun

Usage: often attributive

Date: 14th century

1 : the act or process of governing; specifically : authoritative direction or control
2 obsolete : moral conduct or behavior : discretion
3 a : the office, authority, or function of governing b obsolete : the term during which a governing official holds office
4 : the continuous exercise of authority over and the performance of functions for a political unit : rule
5 a : the organization, machinery, or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions and which is usually classified according to the distribution of power within it b : the complex of political institutions, laws, and customs through which the function of governing is carried out
6 : the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization: as a : the officials comprising the governing body of a political unit and constituting the organization as an active agency b capitalized : the executive branch of the United States federal government c capitalized : a small group of persons holding simultaneously the principal political executive offices of a nation or other political unit and being responsible for the direction and supervision of public affairs: (1) : such a group in a parliamentary system constituted by the cabinet or by the ministry (2) : administration 4b
7 : political science

— gov·ern·men·tal \ˌgə-vər(n)-ˈmen-t^əl\ adjective

— gov·ern·men·tal·ize \-tə-ˌlīz\ transitive verb

— gov·ern·men·tal·ly \-t^əl-ē\ adverb